Stuart perry



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

STUART PERRY, OF NEWPORT, NEW YORK.

LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 17,293, dated May 12, 1857.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, STUART PERRY, of Newport, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store- Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speci- -ficatiom in whichi Y Figure 1 represents a view of the back of the lock, with the back plate removed, and the bolt shot out', as when locked in the keeper. Fig. 2 represents a perspective of the lock from its back, with the back plate, and bolt both removed, so as to show the parts in place. Fig. 3 represents a central transverse and longitudinal section through the lock. Fig. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,13, and 14, represent detached portions, and pieces of the lock. Figs. 15, and 1.6, represent the key, in different positions, to show its bits, and construction.

Similar letters of reference, where they occur in the several iigures denote like parts of the lock in all of them.

The nature of my invention relates to the manner of operating the key `tumblers or slides of locks, by such an arrangement of parts within the lock that, every time it is worked, said tumblers or slides must, in relation to their furrings or guides, be moved by the key stem or its equivalent, beyond the limits to which the key bits move them, and sufficiently beyond, and with such differing distances among themselves beyond where the key bits move them, that the limit-s of their full movement shall be entirely different from the limits of their partial movements in the same direction, given them by the key bits, thus producing false clues, and destroying eifectually all true clues for picking the lock. I

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings.

This lock is designed to be `powder and pick proof-to lock on either side without the use of the key-to unlock by the use of the key from either front or backto go onto the door either side up. It has no springs; neither does the movement of any part of it depend upon gravity. All the movable parts are acted upon either directly or indirectly by the key. The key bits are 1 pressed against the tumblers; and do not rub them, and thus afford a clue tfor picking.

vThe end of the key stem projects beyond the sents the case ofthe lock, so much of which, j

as is represented in iron color, and has no movement, may be cast in one piece.

B, C, are segmental iianges cast or otherwise wrought on the case on its inside, for containing respectively the curb, and key bits, and their ring furrings; and the fence tumblers and their washers-all of which parts or pieces, are separately, as well as collectively shown in the several figures, and will be specially referred to in the description.

D, E, are two parallel ledges, cast on the front plate of the case, leaving a clear space F, between them. On the first and principal one of these ledges (D), is a tongue c, over which a slot o, in the slide G, is placed, to guide properly said slide, which also, at its rear end rests upon the two ledges lD, E, as a further support and guide in its traversing movement. The slide G, is shown detached from the lock, in Fig. 8, and is there represented in perspective, to show the projection H, on its front and underside; the object of this projection is to catch against the projections c on the fence tumblers I and partially turn them on their stud or axle, and break the line of the series of slots cl in said fence tumblers, so that the bolt J, after it is shot out, or locked, cannot be slid back into the case, until these slots are all brought into line again bythe key acting through the key tumblers. There are also upon the slide G, two cams, e, f, which will be more particularly referred to, in connection with the cams that actuate them.

A curb g passes about two thirds of the distance through the lock, entering from the front side or plate of the lock, as shown in Figs. 2, 3; and to the outside end of this curb, is secured a tube with a milled thumbpiece 7L, so that said curb can be turned by said thumb piece, without the use of the key (though it may be turned by the key as will be hereafter mentioned). On the inside `end,

of thev curb g, is placed the hub piece K (Fig. 1) there being holes 1, 2, drilled into said curb, into which dowel-pins on the hub piece K enter. This secures the curb and' hub piece together, so that they will move together, whether the pieces separately be operated by the thumb-piece, or by the key. A groove 3 may also be cut on the underside of the piece K-which shall receive the end of the curb, and thus close up the joint between them.. Upon this hub piece K, are three cams L, M, N, of which those L, M,

act upon the cams e, f, of the slide G, and

the remaining cam N, Aoperates the bolt J, it passing into the camv shaped opening O, in said bolt, for that purpose.

The bolt J, is cut away on its underside, as seen in Fig. 7, (which represents a perspective view of the bolt from its underside, or as turned over from its position A shown in Fig. 1,) so as to sit down close over -t-he parts underneath it-but all that part of the-bolt, which projects beyond the ease of the lock is solid. On the underside of the boltl is'fastened a fence or projection P, which, when the slots d, in the series of fence tumblers, are all brought into line,

enters said slots, and allows the bolt to move back int-o the ease. But until these slots are thus brought into line it is impossible to slide the bolt back. j

In Fig. 5, the positions of the hub K, and its cams L, M, N,-the slide G, and its cams e, A)LQ- the curb, and key, are shown, when the'bolt is shot out, and secured out, or locked; and in Fig. 6, the same parts are shown in their positions when the lock is partially unlocked, the red lines showing the additional movement they go through vuse a greater or less number), are laid or rings R, (Fig. 13) between them.

piled inside of the curb, with ring fur- The key tumblers, can be operated independent of the curb, but the ring furrings,7 move only as the curb moves. There are also projections 5, on the inside of both the keytumblers, and the ring furrings, against the first of which the bits Z), on the key S, act. The key tumblers are all alike, and may be punched out by a die.4 The ring furrings are also all alike, and may be punched out of sheet metal by machineryof any ordinary well known kind. As a modication of this part of the lock, I propose to make the key tumblers larger, and the curb smaller,`and reverse their position,.that is to say, place the curb inside of the opening in the keytumblers and ring furrings, instead of outside. This would more effectually close the joints between the keyY tumblers and the furrings. In the first described plan however, the curb is entirely lled up, so that neit-her powder, nor the most delicate tool could be inserted into the lock. The fence tumblers I, are also laid or piled in the segment C, of the case, with plates T, Fig. 14, between them. The fence tumblers are all pivoted on a common stud or axle e', (Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6), there being suitable holes h, in them for that purpose. The plates T, between them, are also furnished with a hole j, so as to drop over said stud or axle, and also with nicks 7c, which fit over the corners Z, Z, of the segment C, so that lwhile theA fence tumblers may freely move on said pin or stud e', the plates T, between them shall be immovably held in their position. Each of the plates T, are further provided with a slot m, which as well as the slots cl in the fence tumblers must all be brought into line, before the fence P, can enter them, and the bolt be drawn back. The fence tumblers in their outline are all exactly alike, but the slots d, in them though radial, terminate at different points in the perimeter-this change being effected by an adjustment of the machine by which they are punched out. The plates T, are all alike, and may be punched out by machinery. The topmost of the fence tumblers I', Fig. 9, may have its point c a little longer than the others, so that the arm H, on the slide Gr, will be certain to go forward far enough to insure the catching of alll thel fence tumblers in its return movement, to draw their slots out of line. The fence tumblers I, are cut away'at their opposite sides, as shown at 0, p,-the former o, for receiving the arm H, on the slide Gr, and admitting of its proper movement, and the latter p, for catching against a pin 7, at the extremities of their movement in locking and unlocking as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The extent of mot-ion of the key tumblers is regulated in one direction by the stud g, Fig. 2, and by its spurs coming in contact with the fence tumblers in the other direction, said fence tumblers being in turn held by the pin 7.

The key S, has a stud t upon it, which enters a longitudinal slot r, in the hub K, of the lock, where it performs a certain function, and then by inserting the key farther into said slot, and turning it a portion of a revolution, said stud then enters a circular slot s, where it performs another duty as will be explained in the operation of locking and unlocking the bolt. The bits b, on the key, which actuate the key tumblers are made as follows: The plate u, on which the bits b, are formed, is separately made from the key. In its flat state it is subjected to the punching machine, and the bits on one edge of it punched out, the plate is then turned around in a horizontal plane (not turned over), and the bits punched in the other edge, and this makes the key equally adaptable, to either side of the lock, which it would not be, if the plate were turned over in punching its two sets of bits, and one key thus serves, with similar action on either side of the lock. After the plate is thus prepared it is fitted to the stem of the key, by a former, and fastened there by screws or otherwise. The end of the key, is cut away at 8, to allow it to pass the spurs 5, on the key tumblers, and the ring furrings. The projections 9, on the ring furrings which extend into the opening in the curb g, are what cause said furrings to move only with said curb, while the key tumblers have a movement independent of said curb.

The operation of the lock is as follows: In locking, the curb g, turns, Carrying the key tumblers Q with it, until the spurs t, on the same, come in contact with the fence tumblers I. The curb continues to move, until the bolt cam N, after having driven out the bolt J, comes in contact with a shoulder, which stops further movement. The key tumblers are stopped in their movement by the fence tumblers, which cannot move in the direction in which the key tumblers are moving, until the arm I-I, of

theirl restorer (G), ceases to act upon the1n which takes place only at the end of the movement of the bolt cam N. The spurs 4, of the key tumblers change their place to the opposite side of the opening in the curb, in consequence of their movement being stopped before that of the curb, and therefore,`if the key be now introduced for unlocking, said spurs can be moved by the key bits 6, in the same direction, in which they were previously moving, without moving the curb. `The key bits, acting through the key tumblers, will now arrange the fence tumblers for unlocking, for the fence tumblers are no longer held by their restorer Gr. The pin t on the key stem, after the key is fully inserted and turned in the proper direction for arranging the fence tumblers I, leaves the longitudinal groove 1", in the hub of the driving cams L, M, N, and enters the circular groove s therein, and consequently has no action in that direction on the hub, or curb attached to it. After the fence tumblers have been arranged, the key is turned in the reverse direction, and the pin t, on it, comes into the longitudinal groove again and pressing against the opposite side turns the driving cams, and therewith the curb containing` the key tumblers. The spurs 4, on these tumblers, now leave the fence tumblers and come with the onward movement of the curb, successively, against the stud g, in contact with which all the spurs are ranged at the close of the movement for unlocking. During this movement the bolt has been withdrawn, by the bolt cam N. It will be observed that when the key bits are applied to the key tumblers to arrange them forunlocking, that the spurs which act` on the fence tumblers are ranged in line on one side of the opening in the curbthat the key bits move them into different positions in this opening, but do not range them -on the opposite side of the opening in the curb, as they are found at the close of the unlocking movement, and that one of the important effects of the arrangement has been to continue the movement of the key tumblers, in the same direction relatively with their furrings It, and guides, after the key bits cease toact, until all of them have passed through the entire space allotted to their independent movement. The object, design and eifect of this, will be explained in connection with the explanation of picking the lock, or attempt to do so.

The bolt can be locked out from the inside of the door, by turning the projecting thumb-piece It, on that side of the lock. It is not intended that the key should be used in locking-though it may be used as a wrench, in which case it should be entered only so far as to just admit the pin t, within the groove r, of the driving cams, or their tube connection. If the bolt should be locked out with the key entered farther than this, or fully entered, then the lock could not be unlocked, without first withdrawing the key tothe point above indicated, andthen making use of it as a wrench, or else withdrawing it entirely and then making use of either of the thumb pieces to complete the movement of the tumblers for the perfect locked out position of the bolt, which cannot be done with the key fully entered. l/Vhen the thumb piece, or key if used properly, can be turned no farther by the hand, by reason of the bolt cam striking a shoulder cut for it in the bolt, then the process of locking is complete.

To unlock,\insert the key in the key hole on either side ofthe lock as far as it will go,

drawn, and held in its unlocked position.

The key can now be readily withdrawn. The tumblers cannot be so displaced by improperly using the key, or by a false key, that all will not come right again by following the above.

In locks as heretofore constructed the or slides.

tumblers or slides are not continued in their movement in the same direction relatively with their guides or furrings, beyond the limits to which the key bits move them, but

, are returned after the key bits cease to act upon them, at some time during the operation of the lock, through the same channels and through the same extent of space, that they are moved through by the key bits at every'unlocking. The result of such a constructionk is that all, or nearly all nonermutation locks, can be readily pic ed. Neither are permutation locks safe, unless the key-bits are thoroughly changed every time the bolt is locked out by thema thing in practice seldom attended to. Among the several ways in which locks of this description can be picked, it may be necessary to mention one ortwo ways only. If the tumblers or slides can be `Seen with, or without, a small mirror introduced into the key-hole, the marks or effects produced by their rubbing either against themselves, the furrings, or guides, will indicate respectively, how far the regular movement of each has been, and this affords a clue for making a cheap'key, which will either move them the same distance, or admit of their being moved the same distance as the true key. A burglar having access at two dilferent times to a lock of the above mentioned kind, at the first" access can, with a sharp pointed instrument raise a bur or point on the edge of each tumbler, or slide, which bur, or point shall be so delicate, as not to obstruct their movement, and yet it-will scratch or mark, the furrings between which they move, to just the extent of the movement given or allowed by the true key in unlocking. After the tumblers have been prepared in this way, they may be left by the burglar-for a day, or for weeks, while the owner is locking and unlocking with theA true key, unconscious of any difference in the movement of his lock. At the second access, the burglar carefully removesthe bur or points with a simple tool, before pushing in the tumblers When this is done, he pushes them in to the full extent of their movement, which will be beyond the limits to which the true key-bits have moved them. The extent Y of the scratch or mark produced on each furring by the raised bur or point, by the use of othe true key, will then be disclosed. And instead of the bur or point, adhesive and marking substances, may be used with like effect, and for similar purposes. Such traces ycan also be obtained, when the tumblers or slides cannot be seen, by tools prepared for the particular lock to be operated upon. These modes of picking, are effectually guarded against by the construction and arrangement of tumblers, or slides, which constitutes the peculiar, and chief merit, and

i novelty of my lock. The common mode of tumblers that the fence tumblers can be reached through the key hole, it is evident that they cannot be-.picked in this way. The furrings and key tumblers cannot be wedged sutliciently far apart to admit of the introduction of even the very finest, or most delicate picking tool to the fence tumblers; and,

if even this were possible, it would avail nothing, as the side of the curb not cut away, intervenes in such 'manner as to cut off all access when the fence pin comes in contact with said tumblers. The rings of the key-tumblers, and the furrings, are so strong, and lie in such a compact form that they cannot be separated-and as there is at .no time of the operation of the lock any opening between them, or any open channel or communication between the key-hole and the interior of the lock, it is perfectly powder proof.

Instead of the reciprocating` fence tumbler restorer Gr, I can use a rotating one, also operated from o ne of the driving cams, but this would in no wise change the general principle and action of the lock. There are other details of the lock which might be described, but as they are shown in the drawings it is deemed sufficient without extending the description further.

Having thus fully described the nature of my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

Operating the key tumblers or slides 0f locks, by such an arrangement of parts within the lock that, every time it is worked, said tumblers or slides, must, in relation to their furrings or guides, be moved, by the key stem or its equivalent, beyond the limits to which the key bits move them, and sutliciently beyond, and with such differing distances among themselves beyond, that the limits of their full movement shall be entirely different from the limits of their partial movements in the same direction by the key-bits, thus producing false clues, and

effectually destroying all true clues for picking in the ways described.,

STUART PERRY. Vitnesses:

HENRY PORTER, WILLIAM CHAPMAN. 

